Psalm 31:12 – I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. (KJV)

Psalm 88:5 – Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. (KJV)

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing. (KJV)

I have a black silicone bracelet on my wrist that I put around my watch to protect the crystal. It tends to keep moving off, so I keep putting it back on. This is not the primary reason that I wear it, but perhaps, the constant on and off motion serves as a quiet reminder to me.

You see, it wasn't always a plain, black band. I bought it from a Canadian Legion member last November during poppy sale time leading up to Remembrance Day (or Veterans Day).

At that time, it had Lest We Forget in bright, white letters in two places, and on either side of those three little words were beautiful red poppies. I wore the bracelet at first thinking I'd take it off after November 11th and save it for next year. Then, I decided to keep it on as something of an experiment to see how long those words and flowers would remain.

My answer began forming in less than two months as the colours gradually faded or rubbed away, until they were completely gone by the end of February. The slightly-raised words and flowers, now in black, were barely discernible. It was then that I decided I'd keep it on, yes, in part, as protection for my watch crystal, but also as a remembrance and something to be able to tell folks when they asked what it was.

Our faith in God is often similar to the words on the bracelet. Oh, we sure do know and remember Him when times are tough and we reach out in desperation. And yes, we remember Him for a time afterwards, but then, slowly, if we don't keep at it, remembering God's graciousness and goodness to us starts fading away until we need Him again — just as we tend to forget our fallen, or at least forget to pay attention to all that we enjoy because of them, until next November rolls around.

One way to keep connected to God is in the three little words of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – "Pray without ceasing." It doesn't always mean that we have to close our eyes and say a long prayer, for often, words fail us.

Just as flipping the bracelet back on my watch is a reminder not to forget; to remember to pray without ceasing can be as simple as saying, "Thank You, God", for the little things that we are given every day — like those little things that happen which some folks call "coincidences" — for the weather, our family, waking up to a new day, being able to hear a bird sing, and always for our food. The list is never ending.

Prayer: Just like the few three, but powerful little words, lest we forget, may we ever be mindful throughout our day to say three other little words: "Thank You, God!" Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
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